Around-the-World Roundup: 'Avengers' Reaches $1 Billion Worldwide

by Ray Subers

The Avengers

May 13, 2012

With official grosses reporting on Monday, it's officialThe Avengers has joined the fabled $1 billion worldwide box office club. The movie reached this level on its 19th day in theaters, which ties the record-breaking pace of Avatar and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (though The Avengers was only playing in the U.S. for ten of those days). It currently ranks 12th on the all-time worldwide chart with $1.000.4 billion, and by the end of next weekend it will move up to fourth place behind Avatar, Titanic and Deathly Hallows Part 2.

"We're obviously thrilled with the global success of The Avengers," said Robert Iger, Disney's Chairman and CEO, in a press release. "It's a fantastic movie and an extraordinary franchise that will continue with more great stories and compelling characters for years to come."

Across its 54 markets, The Avengers added $93.8 million this weekend to bring its foreign total to $627.3 million. That's the highest overseas gross ever for a comic book adaptation, and it ranks 16th among all titles. The movie's top market so far is the United Kingdom with $65.1 million, and China ($50.4 million), Mexico ($49.6 million), Brazil ($44.4 million) and South Korea ($41.5 million) make up the Top Five. It's only major market remaining is Japan, where it opens in August, and there's a good chance The Avengers ultimately winds up close to $800 million in overseas revenue.

Dark Shadows had its foreign launch this weekend, though similarly to its domestic debut it played second fiddle to The Avengers. The Tim Burton-Johnny Depp horror comedy grossed $37.3 million from 42 markets, and was 93 percent ahead of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory across the same regions according to distributor Warner Bros. Pictures. The movie opened to $5.1 million in Russia, $4.6 million in France (first place), $3.9 million in the U.K., $3.8 million in Australia, $2.7 million in Italy, $2.5 million in South Korea, $2.4 million in Spain, and a disappointing $2.1 million in Germany. Dark Shadows still has debuts in Japan, Brazil, and Mexico to look forward to.

American Reunion added $14.6 million in 49 territories for a total of $143.4 million. That passed American Pie 2's $143 million to set a new franchise record. Add in its domestic tally, and American Reunion has now made over $200 million worldwide, and it's likely this movie will ultimately be deemed a success.

Battleship opened in Latin America this weekend but only saw its revenues jump to an estimated $11.1 million (new total of $215.2 million). It had fine debuts in Mexico ($3.1 million) and Brazil ($1.6 million), though it trailed the third weekend of The Avengers in both of those territories. It's entirely possible that a similar fate awaits Battleship when it opens in the U.S. this upcoming weekend.